Mr Neally was subsequently diagnosed as having suffered a pulmonary embolism, a blockage in the blood vessel that takes blood from the heart to the lungs.

He has since recovered from the episode, which doctors say he was lucky to survive, though continues to receive treatment for the life-threatening complication.

The driver said that his Tesla’s self-driving technology could have stopped him having an accident in the emergency situation, adding that it could be used to save more lives in the future.

“If something like that happens where I become unconscious or incapacitated while I’m driving, I’m not going to cross over the interstate and slam into somebody or slam into one of the big rock walls,” he said.

“It’s not going to be perfect, there’s no technology that’s perfect, but I think the measure is that it’s better and safer.”